Martin Brodeur's eventual return to the Devils isn't an abstract concept anymore. The face of the franchise is back practicing on a full-time basis and he estimates he is no more than "a week to 10 days" away from playing games.

Brodeur practiced with the full squad Saturday for the first time since he suffered a torn biceps tendon in his left (catching glove) arm on Nov. 1. After his work day was over, Brodeur -- perhaps flush with all those endorphins surging through his body after a 25-minute practice plus another 20 minutes of shot-blocking -- was even ready to proclaim himself ready immediately if needed.

"I'm comfortable to go into a game if I had to," Brodeur said as the Devils prepared to host the San Jose Sharks Sunday at the Prudential Center. "But I know I'm not 100 percent, and that's why I'm not going to do it."

Devils coach Brent Sutter laughed when he heard Brodeur's comments.

"Wishful thinking," Sutter said. "I think there's got to be longer practices where he's in the practice for the full practice."

Sutter said the Devils' heavy schedule of late has made it hard for the team to have any hard practices. Sunday's game will be the Devils' sixth in 10 days and then they go on the road for three games -- Florida on Tuesday, Tampa Bay on Thursday and the Islanders on Saturday. Brodeur will make the trip with the team, but there isn't much opportunity to get any extensive practice before next week, when the Devils have four days between the Islander game and the home game against Colorado Feb. 26.

Brodeur said last week that when he returns he expects to play as many games as he always does and not share time with Scott Clemmensen, who has been an outstanding replacement. But Sutter dashed that thought and said he envisioned bringing Brodeur along slowly. Brodeur said Saturday he wants to play every game, but that the decision is totally up to the Devils.

"I want to play and, seriously, if I have to show up somewhere, I like to play the game," Brodeur said. "If that's going to happen, it's in the hands of (the Devils). I never forced anybody to play me, ever. And I won't start now... And whether people like to believe it or not, that's what it is."

Brodeur split time with Kevin Weekes at Saturday's practice, while Clemmensen got all the work at the other end of the ice.

"It's obviously tough," Weekes said when asked about giving up practice time. "But at the same time, it's a long race, and a big picture, and I try to look at things with a more objective outlook. And for (Brodeur) to come back, the only way that he's going to get back, and regain his form... is to be able to get (practice) reps. If that means sharing some of the reps, if that's what we have to do, then I'm fine with that."

Weekes, who lost out to Clemmensen for the job as No. 1 in Brodeur's absence, has played well in his limited role. He has won his past four starts and is 6-4, with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage on the season.

Weekes was asked if he'd prefer to be traded before the March 4 deadline to a place where he could play more, or stay as a third goalie with a Devils team he believes could possibly win the Stanley Cup. He insisted that is something he hasn't thought about.

"I haven't reached that point," he said. "My sole focus has just been what we're doing here, and what I do every day and what we're accomplishing as a team.

"Things have a way of working themselves out."

NOTES

Brendan Shanahan, whose feet were sore after blocking several shots in Friday's 1-0 win over the Bruins, did not practice. Sutter said he isn't certain whether Shanahan will play Sunday.